Egg products litigation, UEP releases a statement

United Egg Producers has responded to recent news regarding the ongoing egg products litigation. According to UEP, the court has not acted on this agreement so it is only a proposed settlement. This is many weeks and possibly months away, it says.

On Friday, June 4, 2010, attorneys for the direct purchaser plaintiffs in the egg products lawsuit pending in federal court in Philadelphia filed documents requesting preliminary approval of a settlement with a family of companies named as defendants in the lawsuit. This motion has not yet been approved or acted on by the Court. (See news item: Egg farmers settle case over price fixing for 25 m)

United Egg Producers wrote:

While Moark denies all allegations of wrongdoing in the case, the agreement states that Moark has decided to settle the case to avoid the risk, expense and distraction of continued litigation. The filing itself acknowledges this case involves a “lengthy and expensive legal battle” that could in the end fall flat for the plaintiffs.

These documents do not contain any admission of liability or evidence of illegal conduct by any egg producer or United Egg Producers. Nor do they affect in any way the resolve of our industry to show at every turn that the allegations in this case are without merit. We will continue to vigorously defend against these charges in order to preserve and honor the good name of UEP and America’s egg farmers, who work hard every day to produce a nutritious, low-cost food in safe and humane conditions in compliance with all federal and state laws.